Florida Couple Brews Up Beercations for Beer Lovers

Feb. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- With the interest of craft brewing in the United States on the rise, Bon Beer Voyage, a new specialty tour company created by a Florida couple for Belgian and Craft Beer Enthusiasts, has scheduled two tours this year for Florida and Belgium.

The first tour, a Tampa Beer Safari Weekend, will be held from March 19 to 21, 2010 and costs $463 per person. The two-night getaway includes visits and tastings at the award-winning Cigar City, Saint Somewhere and Dunedin breweries, a private tour through Ybor City’s past, a visit to Tarpon Springs, transportation to breweries and tour sites, two breakfasts, and a beer-paired lunch and two beer-paired dinners to be hosted at Tampa Bay Brewery and Fleming’s Steak House.  Transportation to and from Tampa is the responsibility of the participants.  A limited number of tickets for the Fleming’s dinner are currently available to those not participating in the tour.  The price is $65 per person. This price includes the 4 course beer paired meal, tax and gratuity

The second tour, a Belgium Beercation, will be held from October 23 to October 30, 2010. Travelers will sail the canals of Belgium in an exclusive private barge specifically redesigned for the comfort of leisure travelers. Unpacking only once, the passengers will  enjoy visits to some of Belgium’s world-renowned breweries, including Westvleteren Trappist Abbey, where monks make what is widely acclaimed as the best beer in the world,  and the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels, where they can sample their famous open air-fermented beers. Early booking price is $2,195 (based on double occupancy), which includes overnight accommodations, transportation to breweries, guided tours throughout the country, most meals and travel insurance. (Flights to and from Belgium are not included.)  More information on both tours as well as the beer dinner can be found at the Bon Beer Voyage Web site, www.BonBeer.com   .

“Canal cruising is such a relaxed, casual way to travel.” says Ruth Berman, CEO and BBB (Brains Beyond the Beer) of Bon Beer Voyage.  “It was a natural fit for a beer lovers’ tour.  The cabins are bigger than many other barges we’ve sailed on in the past and the chef will be preparing cuisine a la bière (meals cooked with beer) for our guests; it doesn’t get much better than that. We are really thrilled to have the luxury of such a spacious, comfortable barge and such a talented crew to host our group.”  Berman is a travel consultant and tour director with more than 10 years of domestic and international experience.

Mike Arra, co-owner and CBO (Chief Beer Officer) of Bon Beer Voyage, is a longtime beer enthusiast and the creator of the blog The Beer Stocked Refrigerator (http://bonbeer.wordpress.com/). “For years, wine enthusiasts have had tours and tastings available to them all over the world,” Arra said.  “Brewing is as much an art as wine making. Craft beer pairs well with, and often better with, food.  The styles are wide ranging and the word is getting out.  It is about time that Belgian and craft beer enthusiasts have the same opportunity to experience their passion as wine aficionados.”  

More Americans have shown an interest in craft beer and breweries than in the past, according to the Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colorado-based organization that promotes independent breweries, craft breweries and beer making enthusiasts. Growth of the craft beer industry rose by 9 percent in dollars, while general beer sales in the United States were down during the first six months of 2009, according to the association’s web site.  There are 1,525 craft breweries in the United States, the highest total in 100 years, according to the association.

Call 1-888-U-GO-BEER (888-846-2337), visit www.BonBeer.com or e-mail info@bonbeer.com  for more information on specialty beer tours and upcoming events.

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About Bon Beer Voyage: Bon Beer Voyage was created for the beer enthusiast who enjoys traveling throughout the United States and around the world to savor the best in craft and specialty beers. Bon Beer Voyage specializes in tours for small groups with an emphasis on locations known for their craft beer production, and cultural, historical and tourist sites that will interest all travelers.